“Minister Shoygu guaranteed that there were no Russian military personnel involved in the humanitarian convoy,” Kirby said, “nor was the convoy to be used as a pretext to further intervene in Ukraine. He acknowledged that the goods would be delivered and distributed under the International Committee of the Red Cross. Minister Shoygu assured Secretary Hagel that Russia was meeting Ukraine's conditions.”

The two defense leaders discussed the need to have bilateral follow-on meetings of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and agreed to maintain open lines of communication, the admiral said.